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Canada announces 26-player World Cup roster with injured Alphonso Davies included despite fitness concerns
Canada has officially named its 26-man roster for the FIFA World Cup, cutting six players from the original 32-player training camp in North Carolina. Captain Alphonso Davies makes the squad despite currently receiving treatment for an injury in Germany and is unlikely to play in the opening match on June 12. Several other players are also managing injuries heading into the tournament.
Canada has officially unveiled its 26-man squad for the FIFA World Cup, with head coach Jesse Marsch making his final cuts from the 32 players originally invited to the training camp in Charlotte, North Carolina. The roster features a mix of established stars and emerging talent as Canada prepares for its opening match on June 12.
The headline selection is captain Alphonso Davies, who makes the squad despite currently undergoing treatment for an injury in Germany. The Bayern Munich star was described as already locked in to the roster even though he was unable to join the training camp. However, he is unlikely to feature in Canada's first match and may also miss the home opener against Bosnia and Herzegovina as he works his way back to full fitness.
The attacking contingent is led by familiar names including Jonathan David and Kyle Lahren, while the goalkeeping trio of Owen Goodman, Dane St. Clair, and Max Cray Poe all survived the cut from training camp. The squad has been described by analysts as a really strong team despite the injury concerns affecting several members of the group.
Not everyone was so fortunate. The biggest exclusion according to Sports Illustrated's soccer writer was Ralph Preso, a versatile player capable of operating as both a defensive midfielder and centre-back. Despite being seen as a key part of Canada's future setup, an injury sustained during a match against Tunisia and subsequent lack of playing time with the Vancouver Whitecaps ultimately cost him his place.
LAFC's Jacob Schaffelberg is among those managing fitness issues, having injured a muscle and been visibly hampered throughout the training camp week. Despite being unable to fully train with the squad, he was still deemed fit enough to earn his spot in the final 26. Canada will be hoping their walking wounded can recover in time as the nation prepares for what promises to be a memorable World Cup campaign on home soil.